A household is as it were a little commonwealth,
by the good government whereof, God's
glory may be advanced; the commonwealth,
which standeth of several families, benefited;
and all that live in that family may receive
much comfort and commodity.
The husband his duty is, first, to love
his wife as his own flesh. Then to govern
her in all duties that properly concern the
state of marriage, in knowledge, in wisdom,
judgment, and justice. Thirdly, to dwell
with her. Fourthly, to use her in all due
benevolence, honestly, soberly, and chastely.
The wife, her duty is, in all reverence
and humility, to submit and subject herself
to her husband in all such duties as properly
belong to marriage. Secondly, therein to
be an help unto him, according to God's
ordinance. Thirdly, to obey his commandments
in all things which he may command by the
authority of an husband. Fourthly and lastly,
to give him mutual benevolence.
The husband ought not to be satisfied that
he hath robbed his wife of her virginity,
but in that he hath possession and use of
her will, for it sufficeth not that they
be married, but that they be well married,
and live Christianly together, and very well
contented. And therefore the husband that
is not beloved of his wife, holdeth his goods
in danger, his house in suspicion, his credit
in balance, and also sometime his life in
peril, because it is easy to believe that
she desireth not long life unto her husband,
with whom she passeth a time so tedious and
irksome. * * * If she be not subject to her
husband, to let him rule all household, especially
outward affairs; if she will make her head
against him, and seek to have her own way,
there will be doing and undoing. Things will
go backward, the house will come to ruin,
for God will not bless where his ordinance
is not obeyed. This is allowable, that she
may in modest sort show her mind, and a wise
husband will not disdain to hear her advice,
and follow it also, if it be good. But when
her way is not liked of, though it be the
best way, she may not thereupon set all at
six and seven, with "what should I labor
and travail: I see my husband taketh such
ways, that he will bring all to nothing." This
were nothing else, but when she seeth the
house falling, to help to pull it down faster.
He is reckoned worthy to rule a commonwealth
that with such wisdom, discretion, and judgment
doth rule and govern his own house, and that
he may easily conserve and keep his citizens
in peace and concord, that hath so well established
the same in his own house and family. And
on the other side, none will think or believe
that he is able to be a ruler, or to keep
peace and quietness in the town or city,
who cannot live peaceably in his own house,
where he is not only a ruler, but a King,
and Lord of all.
The duty of the husband is to get goods;
and of the wife, to gather them together
and save them. The duty of the husband is
to travel abroad to seek living; and the
wife's duty is to keep the house. The
duty of the husband is to get money and provision;
and of the wife's, not vainly to spend
it. The duty of the husband is to deal with
many men; and of the wife's to talk with
few. The duty of the husband is to be intermeddling;
and of the wife, to be solitary and withdrawn.
The duty of the man is to be skillful in
talk; and of the wife, to boast of silence.
The duty of the husband is to be a giver,
and of the wife, to be a saver. The duty
of the man is to apparel himself as he may;
and of the woman, as it becometh her. The
duty of the husband is to be lord of all;
and of the wife, to give account of all.
The duty of the husband is to dispatch all
things without door;
>> note 1 and
of the wife, to oversee and give order for all things within the house. Now
where the husband and wife performeth these duties in their house, we may
call it a college of quietness. The house wherein these are neglected, we
may term it a hell.